The Press., 1887-05-05

Springfield Republican The Boston and Albany road have comp, eted the first year of the weekly system of payments. The road took time by the forelock, when the mandate went forth from the legislature last year, and instead of waiting untiiJune 1, and being compelled to use 1t, they be- gan May l. The weight of opinion, as ex- pressed by the officials, is that the system has hardly a single argument in it's favor, while many grievous faults are laid at its door. Paymaster Holt says that he does not consider it 8 success, if 1t is to be judged as an improvement over the month ly system. In the first place, he says, that it does not suit the employees as well By the old system of monthly payments, an average employe would draw his pay, settle his bills and have nice little sum left, part of which he would perhaps de- posit in the bank. Now after he has pad his bills he has but small sum left, of course it is in reality one-fourth as much as he would have had last year, but it is B small sum and he thinks he will wait until he has "enough to pay;;" however, before that time comes the money is gone. "Why," says the paymaster, ''I have had many men come to me and tell how much they saved in the old way, and then say that they had not saved anything since the weekly payments began. l said to them, You have just as much money now as formerly, where does it go to?' They would say, Well, they didn't know, but it goes.' In answer to the question if those who formerly got credit but now have to pay cash could not buy better, he said that such was not the case, as in the large provision stores every one is charged the same prices, and the man who buys for cash gets 5 per cent. discount if he pays the bill when it is due, and the deal CT can afford to do this in order to depend on the t1ade. Then, MT. Holt said that another reason why the system is not as advantageous to the employees is that when the men were paid monthly they could watch them better to see that the families of the men were cared for. Then if man was one of that class that has to have a drunk every time he gets paid of, the road could put up with it when he lost but one day in month if he was desirable work man in other days. We have had great many cases of this kind. 'In regard to the road, said the paymaster, Git costs just four times as much to pay weekly. The company has to employ about 15 more men besides the expense of running the pay cars over the road four times as often." Depot Master Clark said that he 0hU u0hIu uduJ u19u HI Uu0 Ou1R1OJ Ol but road complain of the weekly system, but had never heard one speak in it's praise Division Superintendent Sackett said that he preferred the system, but he refused to state any reasons for such 8 preference.
 
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